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Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver:Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook

Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver:Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver:

Design

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was designed to meet a May 1939 United States Navy specification and was Curtiss' first monoplane carrier aircraft. The SB2C was intended to replace the Dauntless that was just going into production. The plane was to carry bombs in an internal bomb bay and the aircraft had to be able to fit on an elevator 40' x 48'. Brewster also made a prototype, the SB2A Buccaneer which wasn't selected.

The project engineer for Curtiss was Raymond C. Blaylock.

The rear gunner had a large sheet of armor protecting him.

Divebrakes were fitted to the wing and the trailing edge flaps were split.

Prototype

The XSB2C-1 prototype first flew on December 18, 1940. Test pilot Lloyd Childs wasn't enthusiastic about the bomber after taking it for a test flight and discovering stability problems. Days later the XSB2C-1 was destroyed in a crash. In February 1941, during a test flight, the engine quit on an approach to landing. Flight tests didn't resume until May 1941.

During trials one SB2C Helldiver broke apart.

The specifications and thus the design was changed and the new production model wasn't completed until June 1942. It had a larger tail and revised rear fuselage. There was also more armor protection installed. There were around 880 other changes.

Production

An initial order for 370 SB2C-1s was placed on May 15, 1939. This was placed well before the first prototype was completed. In June 1942 the first production aircraft flew and in December the United States Navy started to receive them.

At the Columbus plant a "post production" line was setup to install modifications to finished aircraft coming of the main production line. These were mainly modifications to control surfaces and internal fixes.

Curtiss XSB2C-1: 1

Curtiss XSB2C-6: 2

Curtiss SB2C-1: 978

Curtiss SB2C-2: 200

Curtiss SB2C-1C: 778

Curtiss SB2C-3: 1,112

Curtiss SB2C-4, Curtiss SB2C-4E: 2,045, 2,054

Curtiss SB2C-5: 970

Production: February 1945 - ?, February - October 1945

Curtiss A-25A / Curtiss SB2C-1A: 900

Manufacturer: Curtiss (St. Louis)

Total: 7,199, 7,200, 7,203

Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright Company Airplane Division

Manufacturing location: Columbus, Ohio;

SBF-1/3/4/4E/5: 300

Manufacturer: Fairchild, Fairchild Aircraft Limited

Manufacturing location: Longueuil, Canada

SBW-1/3/4/4E/5: 894, 984

Manufacturer: Canadian Car and Foundry Co. (CCF)

Manufacturing location: Montreal, Canada

Variants

Curtiss XSB2C-1: Prototype.

Curtiss XSB2C-2: Prototype float plane. The 5th production aircraft was modified to have twin floats and a ventral fin installed. It was destroyed in water tests and was cancelled.

Curtiss XSB2C-6: Prototype. Longer fuselage. R-2800 engine installed.

Curtiss SB2C-1: Had larger fin and rudder. Carried more fuel. Fuel tanks were made self sealing. Armament was four 12.7 mm machine guns in the wings. Starting at the 201st plane, the wing armament was changed to two 20 mm guns.

Curtiss SB2C-1A: Redesignated A-25As taken over by US Marines.

Curtiss SB2C-1C: Had two 20 mm guns in the wings.

Curtiss SB2C-3: Arrived in 1943/1944. Had a more powerful engine. Used Curtiss Electric four blade propeller. Perforated dive brakes.

Curtiss SB2C-4E: Had a small pod under the wing that carried radar (APS-4).

Curtiss SB2C-5: Carried more fuel (35 gallons). Canopy was frameless.

Curtiss A-25A Shrike: United States Air Force version of the SB2C-1.

SBW-1B / Helldiver I: Canadian constructed for the Royal Navy.

Usage

The SB2C was used by the Australia, Britain, and United States.

First Unit

VS-9 received the SB2C in December 1942.

First Use

The VB-17 on the USS Bunker Hill conducted a raid on Rabaul on November 11, 1943.

Australia

The Australians used 10 Shrikes in 1943 to 1944. None became operational.

United Kingdom

Only 26 were delivered out of 450 that were ordered by 1944. None became operational.

United States

The United States Navy used 5,516 during World War II.

The United States Air Force used the SB2C Helldiver as a trainer and a target tower. These were called the A-25A and there were 900 produced and most of these were used by the United States Marine Corps.